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SKYLAND UNIVERSAL
SKYLAND UNIVERSAL
Hangzhou, China
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Other Projects by Lead8
SKYLAND UNIVERSAL
Hangzhou, China
Firm
STATUS
Built
YEAR
2025
SIZE
300,000 sqft - 500,000 sqft
BUDGET
Undisclosed
Transforming a traditional food hall into a lively dining precinct
‘SKYLAND UNIVERSAL’ is a vibrant new dining precinct that has transformed the former food court area of the MixC Hangzhou retail destination.
The project which spans 3,500 sqm combines luxury, functionality and natural aesthetics to create a multi-sensory culinary precinct that is seamlessly integrated within the existing commercial development.
SKYLAND UNIVERSAL is one of a number of recent repositioning schemes the Lead8 team has undertaken as developers and operators seek to enhance their existing assets in increasingly competitive markets. The approach to MixC Hangzhou was to elevate dining into an artistic experience, revitalise overlooked areas, and encourage new commercial viability.
Harmonising Repositioned Spaces
Lead8’s design philosophy draws inspiration from the natural energy of the city’s Qiantang River. Known for its dramatic tidal surges, the river is captured through organic motifs and flowing lines that harmonise the repositioned space with MixC Hangzhou’s existing features.
The approach has helped to solve one of Lead8’s core challenges with the project, which was reconciling the soaring curved ceiling of the existing ice rink with the food court’s lower entrance height. The solution involved creating seamless gradients across walls and ceilings to mask these disparities, resulting in a continuous flow that mimics tidal movements and energises the space.
The vision was to create an environment where the pulse of Hangzhou’s urban life meets the city’s rhythmic natural landscapes. The fluid architectural elements were not only an aesthetic choice but importantly laid the foundation of the redesign and how Lead8’s design team integrated the new scheme within the existing interior environment.
Optimising Floor Area
To optimise the dining experience, Lead8 implemented thoughtful zoning to revitalise previously underutilised spaces, enhance diversity, and promote interaction. An additional 30% of floor area was unlocked through the repositioning process, significantly expanding the guest seating, vendor zones and cross-floor traffic.
The redesign removed redundant escalators and repurposed the ice rink’s spectator platform into cushioned tiered seating, maximising accessibility while enhancing the overall ambiance.
The “Floating Pearl”, a striking metallic sculpture, serves as the entrance centerpiece near the ice rink’s glass curtain wall. Illuminated by cascading LED ribbons and emphasized by the bold "SKYLAND DISCOVERY" signage, this artwork functions as a 24/7 visual spectacle, seen from both the interior and exterior.
Complementing the sculpture is an intricately designed dining platform that seamlessly merges seating with indoor landscaping and artistic elements, revitalising the previously low-trafficked zone into a lively and busy hub the promotes social interaction.
The design of the sculptural art piece is continued with the glowing ribbon partitions that create distinct areas for various dining options, including dedicated restaurants, alfresco seating, food kiosks, and central islands – catering to diverse dining preferences.
Balancing Luxury with Eco-Friendly Materials
Sustainability plays a central role in this transformation. Lead8 retained the existing stone flooring to minimise waste and thoughtfully selected eco-friendly materials to achieve a balance between luxury and environmental responsibility.
Lead8’s design of SKYLAND UNIVERSAL demonstrates how innovative redesigns can transform conventional and pre-existing spaces into lively social hubs that enrich user experiences and maximise commercial potential.
SKYLAND UNIVERSAL joins Lead8’s growing portfolio of repositioned developments which includes the award-winning JC Plaza in Shanghai, Shangri-La Fuzhou, and Worfu in Hong Kong.
‘SKYLAND UNIVERSAL’ is a vibrant new dining precinct that has transformed the former food court area of the MixC Hangzhou retail destination.
The project which spans 3,500 sqm combines luxury, functionality and natural aesthetics to create a multi-sensory culinary precinct that is seamlessly integrated within the existing commercial development.
SKYLAND UNIVERSAL is one of a number of recent repositioning schemes the Lead8 team has undertaken as developers and operators seek to enhance their existing assets in increasingly competitive markets. The approach to MixC Hangzhou was to elevate dining into an artistic experience, revitalise overlooked areas, and encourage new commercial viability.
Harmonising Repositioned Spaces
Lead8’s design philosophy draws inspiration from the natural energy of the city’s Qiantang River. Known for its dramatic tidal surges, the river is captured through organic motifs and flowing lines that harmonise the repositioned space with MixC Hangzhou’s existing features.
The approach has helped to solve one of Lead8’s core challenges with the project, which was reconciling the soaring curved ceiling of the existing ice rink with the food court’s lower entrance height. The solution involved creating seamless gradients across walls and ceilings to mask these disparities, resulting in a continuous flow that mimics tidal movements and energises the space.
The vision was to create an environment where the pulse of Hangzhou’s urban life meets the city’s rhythmic natural landscapes. The fluid architectural elements were not only an aesthetic choice but importantly laid the foundation of the redesign and how Lead8’s design team integrated the new scheme within the existing interior environment.
Optimising Floor Area
To optimise the dining experience, Lead8 implemented thoughtful zoning to revitalise previously underutilised spaces, enhance diversity, and promote interaction. An additional 30% of floor area was unlocked through the repositioning process, significantly expanding the guest seating, vendor zones and cross-floor traffic.
The redesign removed redundant escalators and repurposed the ice rink’s spectator platform into cushioned tiered seating, maximising accessibility while enhancing the overall ambiance.
The “Floating Pearl”, a striking metallic sculpture, serves as the entrance centerpiece near the ice rink’s glass curtain wall. Illuminated by cascading LED ribbons and emphasized by the bold "SKYLAND DISCOVERY" signage, this artwork functions as a 24/7 visual spectacle, seen from both the interior and exterior.
Complementing the sculpture is an intricately designed dining platform that seamlessly merges seating with indoor landscaping and artistic elements, revitalising the previously low-trafficked zone into a lively and busy hub the promotes social interaction.
The design of the sculptural art piece is continued with the glowing ribbon partitions that create distinct areas for various dining options, including dedicated restaurants, alfresco seating, food kiosks, and central islands – catering to diverse dining preferences.
Balancing Luxury with Eco-Friendly Materials
Sustainability plays a central role in this transformation. Lead8 retained the existing stone flooring to minimise waste and thoughtfully selected eco-friendly materials to achieve a balance between luxury and environmental responsibility.
Lead8’s design of SKYLAND UNIVERSAL demonstrates how innovative redesigns can transform conventional and pre-existing spaces into lively social hubs that enrich user experiences and maximise commercial potential.
SKYLAND UNIVERSAL joins Lead8’s growing portfolio of repositioned developments which includes the award-winning JC Plaza in Shanghai, Shangri-La Fuzhou, and Worfu in Hong Kong.
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